MPs renew push for Sexual Harassment Bill amid incidents involving cops
Lawmakers have renewed their call for the Sexual Harassment Bill to be tabled as soon as possible after a series of incidences involving police.
Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh said the public expects authorities to be the last to commit sexual harassment.
"That's why we need the Sexual Harassment Act. Those in the civil service, especially frontliners, are our pillar of strength during the pandemic.
"We appreciate their contributions and expect them to be the last to abuse their position," she said.
On Feb 11, a woman complained that a police personnel...
- UPDATED 3.43PM | Added comments from Pandan MP and Segambut MP.
Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh said the public expects authorities to be the last to commit sexual harassment.
"That's why we need the Sexual Harassment Act. Those in the civil service, especially frontliners, are our pillar of strength during the pandemic.
"We appreciate their contributions and expect them to be the last to abuse their position," she told Malaysiakini.
On Feb 11, a woman complained that a police personnel stopped her at a roadblock to get her details and later texted her to "get to know" her.
This prompted many more women to share their experiences with police at roadblocks, some involving sexual harassment.
In a separate incident, a police officer allegedly questioned a woman for not wearing a bra and asked her to expose herself to be let off.
There has been an increase in police roadblocks following the implementation of the movement control order on Jan 13 to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Fuziah urged Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador to take the matter seriously to prevent a few bad apples from tarnishing the image of the police force.
"Stern action must be taken to send a strong signal that this kind of harassment is totally unacceptable," she added.
Police are investigating both incidents.
Meanwhile, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto urged Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun to give an update on the Sexual Harassment Bill.
"Rina, given the multiple exposés of women sexually harassed by law enforcement officers, delivery riders, doctors, lecturers, lawyers, the list goes on - is the final draft of #SexualHarassmentBill ready?" she said.
Former women, family, and community development minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and her former deputy Hannah Yeoh, similarly condemned the harassment act, warning that it could trigger trauma in the victims.
"Sexual harassment in the form of vulgar words is enough to make a woman feel uncomfortable, angry and afraid.
"They could be driving off in a state of trauma and this could lead to another accident, aside from the emotional and mental assault they went through," said the Pandan MP and Segambut MP in a joint statement.
Like Kasthuri, they also urged the government to table, debate and pass the Sexual Harassment Bill in the next Parliament session.
Rina had on Jan 7 said the bill will be tabled this year.
Four days later, a state of emergency was declared and Parliament was suspended.
The Perikatan Nasional government, which said it needed emergency powers to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, can govern without a Parliament until the emergency expires on Aug 1.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who lost his majority in the Dewan Rakyat, may also call for a general election after the emergency is lifted, which could further delay the Sexual Harassment Bill.
The bill was supposed to be tabled in Parliament last year but was delayed following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.
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